Chapter 258

Chapter 263: Reluctance (Part 2)

Sometimes, what you fear the most comes to pass.

As Xu Siqin had just begun to speak, a gentle voice sounded beside his ear, "Brother Qin, I know you and your brothers are close. But this matter, you shouldn't take it upon yourself."

It was Eleven Miss who spoke, interrupting Xu Siqin and then glancing at Xu Siyu, "Yuge, you shouldn't take it upon yourself either."

At this moment, the Third Madam, who had been somewhat anxious upon hearing Eleven Miss instruct Amber to summon Lord Xu and the Third Young Master, suddenly snapped back to reality—the immediate priority was to prevent the situation from escalating. If it did, not only would the Xu family lose face, but the Gan family would as well. Moreover, if the elder sister-in-law found out that this was due to her own mishandling, it wouldn't just be a matter of venting her anger as she did today. It might even alarm the elder uncle, the loyal and diligent count, and involve her father as well...

At this thought, the Third Madam couldn't help but shiver. "Brother Qin, your Fourth Aunt is right."

She made a quick decision to first get through the current predicament, "You two shouldn't be covering for each other anymore. This matter will be decided by me and your Fourth Aunt."

Then, she turned to discuss with Eleven Miss, "Fourth Sister-in-law, I think it's better not to alarm Lord Xu and the Third Young Master for now. You don't know, when my elder sister-in-law arrived, she threw the handkerchief at me and started scolding me left and right. I was so angry at the time, I only blamed the children for being ignorant, not thinking much of it. Now hearing what you've said, it does seem a bit suspicious. If we rashly bring this before Lord Xu and the Third Young Master, it might seem frivolous. I think we should investigate further to avoid wronging the children. What do you think, Fourth Sister-in-law?"

The Third Madam looked dejected, her spirit completely gone.

Xu Siqin was simple and honest, Xu Siyu was clever and quick-witted.

Eleven Miss had a good grasp of the situation and knew when to stop.

The field also requires methods and strategies.

After a long thought, she said, "Third Sister-in-law, what you say makes sense. If we rashly bring this before Lord Xu and the Third Young Master, it might seem unsteady." Her tone softened.

The Third Madam was pleased and quickly said, "Exactly."

But as soon as she finished speaking, Eleven Miss's tone changed, "But as for the investigation..."

The Third Madam's heart tightened again. "Fourth Sister-in-law, what do you mean?"

Eleven Miss looked troubled, struggling for a moment before saying, "Since I married into the Xu family, Third Sister-in-law has been very kind to me, teaching me how to manage the household and recommending me to take charge of the household affairs. It's almost like we're real sisters. Moreover, this matter involves the loyal and diligent count's family..." She sighed deeply, "If I insist on my own opinion now, I would truly be ungrateful for Third Sister-in-law's care and affection."

The Third Madam's expression brightened, "Fourth Sister-in-law, you're too kind. I saw that you are a sincere person, worth befriending, that's why I helped you wholeheartedly. Besides, you are the rightful Lady Yongping, it's only right that the household affairs are entrusted to you."

"Third Sister-in-law, please don't say that. You are older and more experienced than I am, I should learn more from you. Otherwise, the Elder Madam wouldn't have entrusted me to you." Eleven Miss exchanged a few polite words with her and then returned to the main topic, "Then, the investigation, I'll leave it entirely to you, Third Sister-in-law." Then she leaned in to whisper to the Third Madam, "After all, the dignity of both families is the most important."

"Yes, yes, yes." Eleven Miss's attitude was like the warm winter sun, making the Third Madam feel comfortable all over, "This matter, leave it to me!"

Eleven Miss smiled slightly.

The two turned around amicably.

"Your Fourth Aunt is right, this matter needs to be thoroughly investigated." The Third Madam looked serious, "Who helped you get these servant's clothes? Who drove you to the loyal and diligent count's residence? Where did the attendants go? All these need to be clarified." She didn't mention Lord Xu or Xu Lingning at all.

The three children relaxed upon hearing this.

Xu Sijian was overjoyed, while Xu Siyu and Xu Siqin exchanged glances—the former raised an eyebrow at the latter, who nodded resolutely in return.

Eleven Miss, who had been observing the children's expressions, felt slightly displeased.

This Xu Siyu is really too immature.

Helping him argue his way out doesn't mean he's not at fault. At this point, instead of reflecting on his actions, he's still exchanging glances with Xu Siqin...

"Yuge," she said with a stern face, "Although this matter still needs to be investigated by your Third Aunt, a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. You've gotten involved in this mess, which is wrong. From today onwards, you are to reflect on your actions behind closed doors. Except for paying respects to the Elder Madam, you are not to step out of Lijing Pavilion without my permission. Once your Third Aunt has clarified the matter, we will decide on your punishment." Then she instructed Amber, "Go and relay my orders to Wen Zhu, the Second Young Master is under house arrest. If the Second Young Master disappears from their sight again, each of them will receive thirty strokes of the cane and then be banished from the household."

In the Xu family, fifteen strokes of the cane could be deadly, and thirty strokes of the cane on a young girl in her teens would surely be fatal.

Everyone in the room gasped, shocked. Even Amber's voice quivered slightly as she replied.

Xu Siyu's face turned pale at the news.

"Fourth Aunt..." Xu Siqin pleaded with Eleven Miss, his face already showing a pleading expression.

Eleven Miss feigned ignorance.

"It's getting late; I'll take Yuge back now," she said formally, nodding slightly towards Madam Gan. "To avoid worrying the Marquis upon his return."

Madam Gan nodded repeatedly as she escorted Eleven Miss out.

She turned to see her sons still kneeling there. The elder one said, "Mother, could you intercede with Aunt for Third Cousin? She was unaware I intended to send her the handkerchief!" The younger one said, "Mother, when Aunt mentioned this, you should have questioned her basis for accusing us, as Fourth Aunt did. We entrusted an older woman with its delivery. She didn't witness us!"

Her barely contained anger erupted like a firecracker: "You two troublemakers! How dare you speak up. If not for your recklessness, would I have faced your aunt's scolding? Would I have had to bow to your Fourth Aunt? Would your aunt dare propose Yuan Jieer's betrothal to your elder brother in my presence?"

Madam Gan intended to betroth Yuan Jieer to Xu Siqin.

Both brothers heard this for the first time.

Xu Siqin was struck dumb.

Xu Sijian was momentarily stunned: "Did Aunt truly propose Yuan Jieer's betrothal to Big Brother? Then why accuse Second Brother of writing Yuan Jieer's poem?" After this, he dismissed his confusion with a broad smile. "However, Big Brother marrying Third Cousin is quite favorable! Big Brother favors her; Third Cousin is beautiful and kind. When Big Cousin fell ill, the maids avoided her, but Third Cousin stayed, caring for her..."

Madam Gan glared at her younger son, who always broached the wrong subjects, and at her elder son, grinning foolishly beside him. She was so angry she couldn't speak for a long time. She paced around the room several times, her eyes catching the large red feather duster in the cloisonné vase on the corner flower stand, and without a word, she pulled it out.

"Whose idea was this? You better tell me clearly!" Her hand trembled as she pointed at her sons. "Otherwise, neither of you will get off easy!"

********

Xu Siyu silently followed behind Eleven Miss, watching her slender figure ahead, listening to the faint sound of the night watch drum in the distance, walking under the warm halo formed by the red lanterns on the corridor. He hesitated several times, wanting to speak but stopping himself. When the courtyard where Eleven Miss resided came into view, he couldn't help but pause, mumbling, "Third Cousin...

Will she be alright?"

His tone was hesitant, guilty, and confused.

Eleven Miss, who had been occasionally glancing at Xu Siyu from the corner of her eye, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

At least he's worried about Yuan Jieer, there's still hope!

Her mood lightened slightly, but when she turned around, her brows still carried a hint of cold disdain. She retorted, "What do you think?"

Xu Siyu was speechless.

"From what Brother Qin said earlier, he met Yuan Jieer when Xian Jieer was enshrining the Smallpox Goddess?" Eleven Miss's tone softened somewhat.

"Yes!" Xu Siyu quickly nodded, "Only that one time."

Eleven Miss glanced at Xu Siyu, speaking earnestly, "Smallpox is contagious. The maids all avoided it, yet Yuan Jieer stayed by her side to serve. Her situation is unimaginable. And you still went and ruined Yuan Jieer's reputation..."

"We didn't! We didn't!" Xu Siyu's face turned purple, waving his hands repeatedly. "Big Brother knows that Third Aunt is determined to have him marry Big Cousin. But Big Cousin is arrogant, and Big Brother isn't pleased either..." His voice gradually lowered, "Third Aunt is taking them to Shanyang... Big Brother just wanted to say something to Third Cousin... We just paid someone to deliver a handkerchief to her..." As he spoke, he looked at Eleven Miss with a slightly panicked expression, "She knew nothing about it. Really! She knew nothing! And we didn't enter the inner courtyard..."

Thinking of the poem on the handkerchief and the attitudes of the children... Eleven Miss believed Xu Siyu was telling the truth. The problem was whether Madam Gan would believe it.

She wanted to teach him a lesson.

To prevent him from acting so recklessly in the future, harming others and himself.

"I believe you're telling the truth," Eleven Miss said coldly, "But to Yuan Jieer, you are the ones who brought her harm. I'm confining you to your room to give you a chance to reflect. To understand what should and shouldn't be done!" After saying this, she instructed Qin Xiang, "Take Second Young Master back to his room!"

Qin Xiang responded nervously, accompanying the depressed Xu Siyu back to Lijing Pavilion.

Watching their retreating figures, Amber said with concern, "Madam, if we confront Third Madam head-on like this, I fear it might provoke her resentment!"

"You saw the situation just now," Eleven Miss said with a stern expression. "Do you think if I had helped Yuge apologize, Third Madam would have let the matter rest and not pursued it further?"

Amber hesitated, "Probably not..."

"In that case, why should we endure it in silence?"

Eleven Miss's voice, though not loud, carried a firm and resolute tone, like the clash of metal on stone. "Even if Third Madam wants to settle this privately, I won't yield an inch, even if it escalates to elder madam. Besides, Yuge is part of our household. If we don't stand up for him, wouldn't it chill his heart?"

Amber appeared thoughtful. Eleven Miss smiled slightly and turned to enter the house.

From afar, she spotted Xiu Yuan and Yanrong chatting in front of a purple sandalwood screen adorned with carvings of plum blossoms enduring the cold.